CJI Surya Kant lays foundation for new Gauhati High Court complex amid lawyers’ protest
Guwahati: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday inaugurated the foundation for an integrated Judicial Court Complex in North Guwahati, Kamrup district, Assam, despite protests by the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA).
The proposed complex, part of a larger judicial township, is intended to serve the Gauhati High Court, which has jurisdiction over Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
The plan has drawn strong opposition from the local lawyers.
Commenting on the protests, the CJI said, "Those opposing the new court complex are either ill-informed or not realising the needs of new members of the bar. Personal vested interests should not be valid grounds for opposing development of infrastructure for the future." He added, "The integrated Judicial Court Complex is envisaged to match aspirations of the future," noting that the site at Rangmahal is strategically located and will consolidate all facilities under one roof.
Justice Kant said that, as head of the country’s judiciary, he has a responsibility to address the needs of incoming legal professionals.
The event was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Supreme Court and high court judges, and several other dignitaries.
Meanwhile, the GHCBA boycotted the ceremony and continued a four-hour hunger strike, which began Thursday outside the old Gauhati High Court building.
"We are completely against shifting the high court from the present location, which is the heart of the city. We have begun our hunger strike from 10 am to 2 pm. None of our members will attend the function," GHCBA vice president Santanu Borthakur told PTI.
The association has opposed the relocation since the beginning, alleging that the government unilaterally decided to proceed with the new construction. Borthakur added, "After this, we are thinking of challenging this in court. Our executive committee will meet within the next few days and decide the future course of action."
The state government plans to build the judicial township at Rangmahal across approximately 49 acres (148 bighas). The first phase, approved by the cabinet in November last year, carries an estimated cost of Rs 479 crore.
The current Gauhati High Court is located in Uzan Bazar, central Guwahati, on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra.
It consists of a historic building and a modern multi-storey complex, which are situated across Mahatma Gandhi Road and connected via an underground tunnel with escalators.
The Assam government intends to redevelop the Brahmaputra riverfront, which requires the existing high court land, while a new convention centre is also under construction next to to the old complex.